Al Krow

Yeah for sure, don't disagree. Hence my comments earlier about blind testing a BB 3000 and a BB 1024. But I think Andy set out the reasons why, other than the fact that some of us (me definitely included!) find that they look awesome, in his comments on "better" very well, a few posts ago. And I'm guessing there's a reason that the BB 1200/S and BB 3000 and 5000 basses (all neck through) are held in such high esteem? I suspect it's more than just nostalgia.

No not all songs in a 2 hour set are identical in the way that they are played by either the band or me the bass player. There will be variation in guitar pedals and sound, whether rhythm guitar is brought in, whether the song is stripped back, Motown vs Rock etc etc. Sometimes it's just great on bass to just 'sit back in the mix'; other times you want / need to be more punchy in order to not be 'lost in the mix'. Earlier in the thread a few pages back John, who is another covers/ function band bassist, mentioned using his 735A mostly in passive, but switching to active 3/4 J setting when required. I'm guessing for exactly the same reasons.

Hidden in your post is actually something very helpful to me as someone who has come pretty close to getting a TRB5Pii on a couple of occasions. And then held back because what I'm really after is a P/J version of the NE2 or alternatively a neck through version of the the 735A. It's really useful to have confirmed that these two high end basses are pretty similar and says to me that I did the right thing in not going for both - so thanks for that!

Interesting discussion topic about what constitutes "better" that you've raised Andy. Can't disagree that it is ultimately subjective, although we collectively can much more easily spot when something is genuinely crap (and that's a long way from what Yammy BB's are!). You said you thought I prefer active basses. Actually that's not entirely accurate. I do love my BB NE2, for sure, which is purely active. It is such a great sounding bass (you managed to get your hands on one yet, Andy?) But my post earlier today about playing my BB 1025 (which is purely passive) confirms that I think that's also a bloody brilliant bass. My 735A I will play both passively than actively. On the other hand my Ibbys I will play almost entirely actively. So I think the more accurate answer is I like both, it will depend on the bass and the preamp, and also whether in a particular setting I need to cut through a bit more on particular numbers, in which case having active EQ on tap can be just the ticket. @krispn has just made some very good points, much more articulately than the response I'd started drafting!

So the neck through just looks great. It's supposed to improve sustain and they're still doing in the NE2. But if you blind tested a BB 3000 and a BB 1024, I wonder if you could tell them apart, other than they were different rather than one being noticeably better than the other? I guess Jack is someone who can ask for a white finish and Yammy will say "sure" or whatever the Japanese for that is

Fair do's. And if they brought out a BB 735A in a neck-through they could take a grand off me too, no question. I'd add another £50 on top if they did one in white 😁

> £1,000 plus shipping. Seems a fairly "full" price. Fortunately it's got a string missing 😁 And I'm not sure it will sound any better than a BB 1024 which will set you back less than half that? I was about to say there's even a 1024/X in the FS, but just checked and they've ALL gone! But maybe I'm just completely missing the point...

Thought I'd take my BB 1025 for a little spin with a new 4 piece outfit who met up for the first time last night. Ended up at the Pirate rehearsal studio in Greenwich. Apart from being very hidden (is that like a requirement for rehearsal studios?) it was actually pretty well stocked in terms of back line and all included in the price. Ashdown RM and Ashdown cab provided for me to play through. Well I was (genuinely) looking forward to trying a different rig out. But what is about Ashdown cabs at rehearsal studios that they are always beaten up (even when relatively new looking as this one)?! I hit the A note on the E string and the cab starts 'farting' like it's just had green veg only for the past week. The rest of the band (typically) didn't seem to mind too much, saying "they have heard worse"...Anyway we all know that the folk most bothered about bass tone (and rightly so) is us bass players. So I set up my trusty BF SC and DG M900 rig which I had brought along just in case. We weren't playing too loud so, for once, I didn't stick plugs in my ears at all during the rehearsal (partly also to be listening out for what the new guitarist was doing). What I heard coming from the bass rig (no compression, no pedals, just bass amp and cab) I just loved! So what's the point of this rambling post? Well it's simply this: those of you who have Yamaha BB1024s / 1025s, if you're not desperate to have the additional option of an active preamp on your bass then you absolutely shouldn't feel you are missing out by not having a BB 734/5A, you've got a really fine piece of kit in your hands.

On overall compactness / weight / power / cost I'm finding it hard to better the Alto TS308 as a decent little floor monitor. Given the positive feedback from folk who have owned or just heard them, I think that's where I'm landing for our band. Either way, it should be a step up in sound from the Behringer B205D. We've got our next pub gig in a couple of weeks when we can put it through its paces.

Well that's still better than "KFC...with triple gravy!" 😂🤣

Surely the best advice is surely to start with a door stop / Stylophone and work up? 😂🤣

It's been good to take the opportunity to refresh. Bit of yin and yang and all that...

Haha - looks like I should seriously try to reverse my desire for 'order' (aka OCD - lol!) and put the B string saddle back to factory, as this seems to be what most folk have stuck with. Having said that - it sounds bloody good in normal setting!

Out of interest, have you kept the factory ('inverted') setting for bridge piece saddle on the B string, or reversed it so that is a 'normal' bridge saddle as with the other 4 strings?

👍 Cool, and the best sort of band!!

@Merlino - that's a really neat summary, thank you! Are you currently playing in a band and using your filters in a band mix? (If you have any clips of you doing so, please do share with us!)

@ChrisJaxon that all sounds great! You had your 735A a while or a recent addition? You got other BBs?

Does sound like a well considered and articulate analysis dB...but I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about - particularly with the Fwonk! 😂🤣

@Merlino We both know that we can get quite a range of sounds from the Fwonkbeta and MXR BEF depending on the settings we are using - but I would be interested in your, or anyone else's, thoughts who also has both: would you say those clips are a fair representation of their overall sound i.e. the Fwonkbeta delivers a more consistent and sweeter tone, whereas the MXR is more responsive to playing style?

Cheers Paul. Me too actually! But I've got a sneaky suspicion that the BEF is going to cut through better in a full band mix.

Fwonkbeta vs MXR BEF - both on my current fav settings (you'll need to excuse the playing but it's getting late!) Fwonkbeta.mp3 MXR BEF.mp3

Ssssshhh! His missus might be checking in, after all he's not home yet...